The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 152

WALKS FROM GLEN DOLL
Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 388 & 387
These walks are some of the main routes across the Grampians from the Angus glens to
Deeside, many of which follow well-established old drovers' roads. All three either fringe or
cross the royal estate of Balmoral, and Prince Charles's favourite mountain - Lochnagar - can
be seen from all angles. The walks all begin from the car park at the end of the tarred road
where Glen Clova meets Glen Doll; all routes should always be approached with care, and you
should follow the usual safety precautions.
CAPEL MOUNTH TO BALLATER
(15 miles; 7hr)
Initially, the path zigzags its way up fierce slopes before levelling out to a moorland plateau,
leading to the eastern end of Loch Muick. It then follows the River Muick to Ballater.
CAPEL MOUNTH ROUND TRIP
(15 miles; 8hr)
Follows the above route to Loch Muick, doubling back along the loch's southern shore. The
dramatic Streak of Lightning path that follows Corrie Chash leads to a ruined stables below
Sandy Hillock; the descent passes the waterfall by the bridge at Bachnagairn, where a gentle
burn-side track leads back to Glen Doll car park.
JOCK'S ROAD TO BRAEMAR
(14 miles; 7hr)
A signposted path leads below Cairn Lunkhard and along a wide ridge towards the summit of
Crow Craigies (3018ft). From here, the path bumps down to Loch Callater then follows the
Callater Burn, eventually hitting the A93 two miles short of Braemar.

2

Brechin
Twelve miles or so northeast of Kirriemuir, BRECHIN is an attractive town whose
red-sandstone buildings give it a warm, welcoming feel. The chief attraction is the old
cathedral , a building that's emboldened some (including the local football team) to
proudly describe Brechin - in line with the historic definition - as a fully fledged city.

The cathedral
On Bishop's Close, off the High St • Daily 9am-5pm • Free
There's been a religious building of sorts here since the arrival of evangelizing Irish
missionaries in 900 AD, and the red-sandstone structure has become something of a
hotchpotch of architectural styles. What you see today dates chiefly from an extensive
rebuilding in 1900, with the oldest surviving part of the cathedral being the 106ft-high
round tower, one of only two in Scotland. The cathedral's doorway, built 6ft above the
ground for protection against Viking raids, has some notable carvings, while inside you
can see various Pictish stones, illuminated by the jewel-coloured stained-glass windows.

Pictavia
Haughmuir, 1 mile west of Brechin • April-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Nov-March Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm • £3.25 •
W pictavia.org.uk
A mile from the town centre along the Forfar road in the expansive grounds of Brechin
Castle (not generally open to the public) is Pictavia , a custom-built tourist attraction
with the grandly titled Brechin Castle Centre (a garden centre) as its hub; this is also
where you'll find Brechin's tourist of ce . Based on the history and heritage of the Picts,
it's a little lacking in substance.
ARRIVAL, INFORMATION AND TOURS BRECHIN

By bus Brechin is easy to get to and from; bus #30 runs at
least once per hour to Montrose, 9 miles east.

Tourist o ce At Pictavia (April-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-
5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Nov-March Sat 9am-5pm, Sun